The 21st Century’s Programmable Keyboard

Imagine that, during a fierce fit of rage during a gaming experience, you took hold of your keyboard, threw it against the wall, and clumsily picked up the keys and placed them exactly as you wanted them laid out on a tray near the computer. What if, for some strange reason, you decided to press these keys only to discover that they still work?

Enter the DX1 Input System, a USB peripheral device by newcomer Ergodex, designed for users to arrange (and rearrange) an assortment of programmable keys anywhere on its 11-inch x 9-inch “DX1 Pad.” The concept is simple: You begin with 25 DX1 keys, place as many of them on the DX1 Pad in any layout you wish, and use the included software to assign functions to each one.

At first glance, this looks to be a really cool, albeit pricey ($150) concept. It’s also limited in that it only works with Windows 2000 or XP. According to Ergodex, the DX1 is compatible with virtually all Windows programs, so rather than merely typecast it as a $150 gaming accessory, we took it for a spin in several programs, including graphics programs, word processors, web browsers, and email (and yes, games). Does the DX1 bring enough coolness to justify its $150 price-tag? Continued…

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